Steve Evans is baffled over Leeds United’s decision to go after Marcelo Bielsa as their next manager after sacking Paul Heckingbottom on Friday.
Bielsa’s agent and brother Rafael has been quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post as confirming that the Whites are in discussions with the former Lille and Athletic Bilbao manager with it seeming as though Andrea Radrizzani doesn’t want to waste any time in finding Heckingbottom’s successor.
However former Leeds and Rotherham manager Evans is surprised that the Whites would go after someone who is unproven in the Championship, and has suggested that they should look at the likes of Steve Bruce or Mick McCarthy instead.
“They’re perhaps going to an Argentinean to go in there and sort things out but I’m looking at Steve Bruce, I’m looking at Mick McCarthy, I’m looking at English managers who have track records of getting out of the Championship – why are they not knocking on those doors?” the Peterborough manager said, as shown on the Sky Sports website.
“It would probably suggest they want to keep a lot of things in-house rather than give responsibility to the head coach.
“I think his reputation in the game on worldwide basis is phenomenal, but will he know what it’s like going to the New York Stadium in Rotherham on a Tuesday night and trying to get a result? I’m not so sure.
“What I would know is the Steve Bruces of this world, and with all due respect as he’s the Aston Villa manager, but the likes of Mick McCarthy, a Yorkshireman himself and has done a brilliant job everywhere he’s been.
“You would think the Leeds United fans would be ecstatic if one of them was appointed.”
OPINION
Evans could not be more wrong if he tried. Why do Leeds need someone who has managed in the Championship before? Rafa Benitez hadn’t before he won the league with Newcastle. Nuno Espirito Santo hadn’t before he won it with Wolves. Slavisa Jokanovic in his first season in management in England got Watford promoted and then did it again with Fulham this season. David Wagner only took two years to get Huddersfield up. It’s a ridiculous claim that someone has to ‘know the Championship’ in order to win promotion and there are facts to prove that it doesn’t matter as long as that manager is good enough. Is Bielsa good enough? His track record and CV would suggest he is more than qualified, if anything over-qualified, for a job in the Championship. Would Leeds fans be ecstatic if they hired Bruce? Given his style of football and inability to get Villa up this season, absolutely not. It’s no wonder that Evans was sacked by Leeds.